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Generation of nonthermal electron distributions by turbulent waves near the Sun
Author(s) -
Roberts D. Aaron,
Miller James A.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/98gl00328
Subject(s) - physics , electron , solar flare , computational physics , solar wind , acceleration , particle acceleration , interplanetary spaceflight , chromosphere , astrophysics , energy cascade , plasma , turbulence , mechanics , astronomy , classical mechanics , nuclear physics , spectral line
We present a model for the generation of the nonthermal electron distributions observed in interplanetary space and required in some solar wind acceleration and coronal heating theories. The particles are accelerated by fast mode waves generated by an unspecified mechanism (perhaps reconnection associated with microflares) in the upper chromosphere or lower transition region. The waves interact and cascade to higher wavenumbers where they eventually energize electrons out of an initially Maxwellian distribution. Coulomb collisions limit the number that are accelerated. As the electrons are driven to higher energy they more readily escape from the acceleration site. Escape limits the efficiency of the acceleration at high energies. The distributions do not extend into the ultrarelativistic regime like those generated under solar flare conditions, but do have significant nonthermal tails.